Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

The innovative BA (Hons) Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands is designed to give you a solid grounding in the creative principles, in both form and structure of four of the main areas of creative writing: poetry, prose, playwriting and the screenplay. You will be encouraged to explore how these can inform and support other areas of professional writing in gaming, advertising, marketing, vlogs etc.

You will have the opportunity to present your work using traditional methods as well as using new technologies and publishing platforms. The course aims to place creative disciplines within the cultural, social, political, geographical and historical context of Scotland, and to show how they make the area culturally unique but connect it to the literature, cultural traditions and histories of its geographical neighbours.

You will be encouraged to pursue your individual creativity, along with both the necessary intellectual stimulation and understanding of the professionalism required to be a successful writer in your chosen field.

The degree capitalises on the popularity of books and series set in Scotland and beyond, and will encourage you to realise the potential opportunity these existing and developing markets represent for your work.

Special features

Residential experiences

Lecturing staff from a variety of creative and professional backgrounds

Accommodation

Entry requirements

You will also be required to submit a portfolio of examples of creative writing (up to 3,000 words)

You will also be required to attend an interview (international students may be interviewed by Skype)

Year 1 - CertHE

Modules may include:

Introduction to creative writing skills

Writing for film: introduction to screenplay

Reading as a writer

Lyrical poetry in the modern world

Creative project: journal

Creative project: portfolio

Year 2 - DipHE

Modules may include:

Writing for children and young people

Writing for film: writing a screenplay

Developing creative writing skills

Introduction to publishing

Critical and contextual studies

Creative project: folio

Creative project: peer assessment

Year 3 - BA

Modules may include:

Scottish writing

Orkney and Shetland literature

Writing for performance

Writing experience placement

Authors and audiences

Creative folio: researching your writing

Creative folio: writing what you know

Creative non-fiction

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Modules may include:

Crime pays

Publishing practice

Writing in the market place

Social media skills

Publication project

How will I study my course?

Full-time

Part-time (Structured)

Part-time (Unstructured)

You will learn through a combination of face-to-face and/or video conference seminars, residentials and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors

Residentials will take place twice each academic year. Student are required to self-fund any travel to the residentials and cover accommodation and subsistence costs

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time RUK and International undergraduate students for continuous and contiguous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). UHI operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.